Improvement in folding chairs



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G. MGALEER.

Foldn'g-Ghars. 510.148,23@ Patented March 3, 1874.

UNITEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MGALEER, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1485230, dated March 3, 1874; application filed September 20, 1873.

To all whom it may concr'nf y Be it known that I, GEORGE MGALEER, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Folding Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of my folding chair, vertically sectioned. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of same when chair is extended. Fig. 3 is a view of the chair folded. Fig. 4 is a side view, with my chair extended.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements on chairs, wherein the legs, arms, seat, and back are so constructed and put together that they can be folded into a small compass. It consists, mainly, in a rigid seatframe, or support for a seat, with rear leg extensions formed lon or applied to it, and with a folding back, which is connected to the seatframe by means ot' long slotted hinges, or their equivalents; also in combining with said seat-frame and its rear leg extensions jointed arms and front leg extensions, which, when the chair is folded, will lie in or nearly in line with the back, the seat-frame, and its leg extensions, as will be hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, A repretents the seat-frame, or frame which is adapted for supporting the chair-seat. This frame is composed of longitudinal and cross pieces', framed together in a rigid manner, so as to afford a substantial seat. The longitudinal pieces of the seat-frame A are extended backward and downward, and form the rear legsl B of the chair, which are connected by a crossbar, a. E represents the back or panel frame of the chair, which is connected to the inside ot' the longitudinal pieces of the seat-frame A by means of long hinges b b. The rear ends of these hinges are pivoted at the lower ends of the back E, and extend forward over the rear cross-bar of the seat-frame, and are connected thereto by pivots c o, which pass through oblong slots o made through the hinges. C G represent the chairarms, which are extended downward and forward below the seat-frame, so as to form the front legs C C. The upper ends of the arms C C are pivoted to the inclined side pieces of the back B at e and at g. The combined arms and front legs are secured together by a cross=bar, G,

on which the seatframe rests, and to which this frame is connected by means of straps h. When the chair is set up, the points e, g, and form a triangle, bounded by the lower portion of the seat-back, the rear portion ofthe rigid seat-frame, and the arms of the chair, and the arms afford rigid braces for the other part-s composing the chair; and in this posiA tion of the several parts, the lower ends of the side bars of the chair-back rest firmly upon the two rear angles of the seat-frame, where they are held by the hinges b b.

To foldthis chair, the lower end of t-hc back E is pressed backward the full length of the slots c through the hinges b, which will allow the seat-frame, with its legs, to be flexed about its joint-connections with the cross-bar G, and brought in line with the back and its arm-braces and the legs thereof.

If desirable, the lower ends of the side bars of the chair-back may be secured by hooks a, or other suitable fastenings, to the seat-frame or the rear legs thereof.

Instead of using slotted or extensible hinges b b, the seat-back may be connected by butthinges to the seat-frame, and extension allowed at the junction of this frame with the side arms C C by slotting these arms or the side bars of the seat-frame, as 'indicated in Fig. 2.

W'hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A folding chair, composed of three parts, to wit, a rigid seat -frame, with rear legs, jointed arms, with front legs, and a folding back, said parts being adapted for connection, by the means substantially as specied. l

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses: GEO. MOALEER. v

PHIL. G. MASI, GHAS. B. STEELE. 

